The Ocala metropolitan statistical area (MSA) held the fourth highest unemployment rate among metropolitan areas in Florida last month, according to a recent report by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Despite being down .4% from last year, the Ocala MSA’s unemployment rate rose .2% from April to May.
The unemployment rate in Citrus, Levy and Marion counties was up to 3.9%, a .2% increase over April and a 0.3% decrease from the region’s rate last May (4.2%).
The region’s labor force in May was 204,096. Approximately 196,196 were employed in the region and 7,900 were unemployed.
“We certainly saw some increase in unemployment percentages, but most important is that the employment numbers and labor force have grown,” said Rusty Skinner, CEO of CareerSource CLM.
Skinner stated that the relatively low jobless numbers and increase in the number of those employed is a “very good sign when you factor in the seasonality” of college students returning to the area looking for summer jobs, as well as education support personnel and teachers looking for supplemental income this summer.
Across the state, the jobless rate rose in 58 of Florida’s 67 counties during the month of May, decreasing in only 3 counties and remaining steady in 6. Citrus County was tied for highest unemployment rate with Gulf, Hardee and Sumter counties. Marion County was tied with Glades County with the 12th highest rate. The lowest unemployment rate in the state was Monroe County at 2.1%.
Interested in seeing the full report? Read the most recent data available from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.